My local dealer spoke to HD Australia, they confirmed the XR would be available here for the 2008 model year, so most likely Sept 2007 as it still needs to go through the ADR (Australian design regs).

No idea on price so far.

It's gotta come here then unless the wobble thread scares the factory off! Matt

A direct competitor for the XR1200, the Ducati S4S: It's ONE HUNDRED pounds lighter and puts 117 hp to the tire.

Everyone and his brother has a Ducati though. The XR1200 is the coolest sportbike to be produced IMHO and dang what a history the XR series has.

It sure will be fun to see the after market guys doing what they do to get her down to fighting weight, and see how much more power is available.

It's gotta come here then unless the wobble thread scares the factory off! Matt

The MoCo could care less about the wobble thread :laugh

Not even on their radar screen...

Everyone and his brother has a Ducati though. The XR1200 is the coolest sportbike to be produced IMHO and dang what a history the XR series has.

Only it's NOT a REAL XR anymore than NASCAR stock cars are "stock". Kind of like putting the Indy 500 Pace Car decals on a late 70's Corvette with it's massive 230 hp. Yes, it does look cool. Yes, it's unique. Yes, it will be a nice "extra" bike for lolly gagging about. No, it's NOT a performance bike. No, it has NOTHING to do with the "XR series".

If H-D had used this styling, but held the weight to 500 lbs. and upped hp to 100, it would cut nicely between the Buell's and Sportsters for performance and offer a performance alternative to the Ducks, but it's largely all show and no go in it's current design. Naked performance bikes are now as competitive as the 600cc class was/is. It can't make it on "retro-nostalgia" alone.

Only it's NOT a REAL XR anymore than NASCAR stock cars are "stock". Kind of like putting the Indy 500 Pace Car decals on a late 70's Corvette with it's massive 230 hp. Yes, it does look cool. Yes, it's unique. Yes, it will be a nice "extra" bike for lolly gagging about. No, it's NOT a performance bike. No, it has NOTHING to do with the "XR series".

Again, seems that those who are closer to it think differently

Watch the video link, mid-page, toward the right

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3824&Page=1


If H-D had used this styling, but held the weight to 500 lbs. and upped hp to 100, it would cut nicely between the Buell's and Sportsters for performance and offer a performance alternative to the Ducks, but it's largely all show and no go in it's current design. Naked performance bikes are now as competitive as the 600cc class was/is. It can't make it on "retro-nostalgia" alone.

It's not meant to be a SPORT bike, but a sportING bike. Again I'll reference the Thruxton, the Guzzi Griso and maybe new 940 Classic, are the liter Ducs gonna be quicker at 100-140 lbs. lighter, SURE, but the hp and torque figures are not all that far off, so if you CAN shed some weight on the beast, I bet it could even be competitive with them.

There is one thing that is almost certain, the XR has the possibility of being the fastest and best handling modern Sporty so to call it "all show and no go" is just to dis the entire rest of the sporty line.

NONE of them are meant to compete with Jap inline 4s!

K

Well, H-D invented the XR back in 1970. But by 1980 they no longer sold a complete bike,just engines. The racer/builder had to use any number of aftermarket frames. Champion,Widman,Lawwill,Paughco (one of these is wrong) etc. So, those bikes could not possibly be REAL XR's, let alone Harleys since they have aftermarket frames.

Wait- Harley never even made their own frame for the early 750. They contracted with race frame builders so those aren't even REAL harleys! There never was a REAL XR!

And the XR-1000 was a fake-out since it just had a plain old XL frame and electric start.

And I thought my Ford was just like them nascar stockers! Dayumm.


<look> it's Harley's bike. It's not a Riverside or a Hodaka or Porsche Rod.

If they say it's an XR.....well, it's an XR. Don't get so serious, it's just a bike. In the 1970's the big 4 from Japan were fielding $30,000.00 titanium MX exotica. Lotta dough back then but it was win at any cost factory wars. Now you couldn't exactly get a bike like that at the dealer for trail riding. But they still called 'em YZ, Elsinore, RM,etc. It's called marketing.

Roadsterany number of aftermarket frames. Champion,Widman,Lawwill,Paughco (one of these is wrong)

If this is a new competition, where can I claim my price???

Wait- Harley never even made their own frame for the early 750. They contracted with race frame builders so those aren't even REAL harleys! There never was a REAL XR!


Hum??? So, any H-D that has got tyres not made by H-D is not a real H-D????

Yes, Widman help H-D with the XR frame design, and yes, H-D sub-contracted their fabrication BUT the XR was sold as a whole bike up to 1980, one could buy the frame as a part as it's in the parts books, it was advertized with sales catalogues, hence it is a real H-D... (I even go as far as saying any H-D racer is more of a H-D than any of their other production!!! as it was built with intent by a rarefied and skilled workforce, with a weekly goal that they rarely missed etc...)

Racing Patrick!!!

p.s.: Look at it this way: H-D does not cast its own cases, nor cylinders, nor heads, nor wheels, nor forks... endless list of sub-contracting!!!

Again, seems that those who are closer to it think differently

Watch the video link, mid-page, toward the right

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3824&Page=1




so in that video, about 3/4 of the way through, they are showing scott parker (with accompanying disclaimer of course) doing a wheelie. you think thats stock as delivered?

so in that video, about 3/4 of the way through, they are showing scott parker (with accompanying disclaimer of course) doing a wheelie. you think thats stock as delivered?



That's what he was there for, to help in the testing and development of what was to be a stock/delivered bike. I don't see why they'd hop it up for testing and back it off for street. So I'd say YES, I think so.

Kev

A direct competitor for the XR1200, the Ducati S4S: It's ONE HUNDRED pounds lighter and puts 117 hp to the tire.

That's an S4R and they go for $12,999 USD. They also weigh 390 dry and pull 117rwhp. You may see a few of them but you won't see many of the S4Rs models and that's the works bike The s comes with Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes and ultralight Marshesini wheels for an MSRP of $14,999 USD. I think it's a lot more bike than most Sporty owners want to tackle....... Besides, it doesn't go potato potato and they forgot half the swingarm. It's also considered a sport bike and as such carries the added cost of insurance which in my case is 4 times what the Sporty is because I have been looking at one. At just under $1,000 a year it is double what my Yamaha is and only has 25 more rwhp but it's 400cc's more and a Ducati to boot. I'd venture to guess the XR will be cheaper all around.....

[quote=Duane Wood;578342anymore than NASCAR stock cars are "stock".[/quote]

Now I'm getting concerned about hanging out here. "Factory Racers" are exactly that. The fastest and most competitive machine the factory engineers can put together for a given competition.

Are you going to see it on your showroom any time soon? Of course not. I for one, think it's terrific that Harley is back into racing competitively.

Now I have some one to cheer for at the races.

What's wrong with that? Remember the famous flat-track days? When HD ruled. Then came the 'rice-cooker' invasion.

I'm glad to see HD fighting back. All I can say is "It's about time...."

The good news is that all the really good stuff on the showroom evolves from the race course.

Regards,
Bob G

[
The good news is that all the really good stuff on the showroom evolves from the race course.
Regards,
Bob G
[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Yep - and H-D gave us the 8-valve, overhead cam, watercooled, V-Rod as a direct result. I think it's still the fastest V-Twin cruiser out there? There is no stopping modern technology. It advances as certain as the ocean tide.